Nne of the most fantastical happenings in The Color Purple Essay Example

duties, some may argue that letter writing is unrealistic. Despite being oppressed and exploited as a laborer, domestic worker, and sexual servant, Celie manages to find time to write letters, which is truly remarkable. It's worth noting that as someone who is blatantly poor and unable to buy new clothes, it's unlikely that she would have access to the luxurious pen and paper needed for letter writing in her society.

However, it's also important to note that letter writing is a deeply personal activity that allows the writer to express their innermost thoughts and feelings on the page.

Creativity requires a private space, however, it is a challenge for Celie to find such a space in the presence of Mr___. Even her bedroom is shared with him, and no other spot in the house is free from his presence, as noted by Belle Hooks. As Hooks has pointed out, there is an absence of any description featuring Celie with a pen in hand, or any discussion of where and when she writes. This could suggest that Celie lacks independence and confidence to confront Mr___ and request time off from work or writing.

According to Hooks, Celie's ability to express her emotions through writing calls into question her supposed insecurity. Additionally, Hooks suggests that the use of letter writing in the novel takes away from its horror as it limits the perspective presented. This recurrent authorial presence, according to Hooks, suggests that Celie is not truly oppressed by her society as she has the ability to become a writer despite her circumstances. However, Hooks contends that this narrative style distracts from the novel's central themes of Celie's

oppression by patriarchy and racism.

According to Bell Hooks, despite being constantly oppressed, Celie manages to find a clear spirit that enables her to write despite her extremely challenging life. While I may not agree with all of Hooks' arguments, her insightful analysis of epistolary form using her own interpretation is commendable. Nevertheless, there are opposing viewpoints to consider, such as the fact that Celie is a unique case and manages to overcome her circumstances.

Despite Celie's initial debilitation and oppression in the beginning of the novel due to experiencing rape, she is able to gain strength and confidence in her own ability. While she faces the challenge of an unborn child conceived from her father and another on the way, she also cares for her dying mother and younger siblings. Despite these hardships, Celie is not a weak person but rather a silent survivor who is also resourceful.

Despite being black and poor, I am present. Throughout the text, Walker gradually develops the character's confidence by demonstrating their interactions with other women. This progress begins when Sofia declares, "I ought to bash Mr___ head open. Think about heaven later." Later, Shug introduces Celie to new perspectives, which further contributes to her sense of empowerment.

The quote "'Are you too ashamed to even look at yourself?'" signifies that Celie's writing serves as a connection to her ancestry and enslavement, as noted by the existence of slave literature from writers such as Harriet Jacobs. As a result, Celie's writing carries on this legacy. The novel's theme of slavery mirrors the era in which it is set - the early 1800s - clarifying why the epistolary style was

utilized as a means for readers to comprehend the historical context. Celie's initial letter is directed towards "Dear God," underscoring how religion held significance in black individuals' lives during this time period.

It is crucial to bear in mind that God has held a significant place in Black culture since the slavery period - slaves wished for their descendants and offspring to stay close to God, who provided comfort during challenging times. In those days, Southern parents required their children to attend church every Sunday. Although Walker hails from Georgia and her Southern roots may have influenced her use of epistolary, she employs it ironically as Celie writes letters to a remote God associated with patriarchal oppression.

In my opinion, Bell Hooks may have intelligent points but I consider her to have a limited perspective. According to Hooks, The Color Purple is intended to be a realistic literary work. However, this novel delivers certain messages to the audience. Additionally, it is not obligatory for fiction to be an exact reflection of reality. In fact, it would only make the novel uninteresting and monotonous if it were.

Despite not being completely realistic or apparent, an intelligent reader can still deduce the challenges presented within the novel. Hooks' statement that Celie could not have accomplished her feats comes off as condescending. The novel serves a purpose beyond being a realistic account, similar to some of the great slave narratives that were written in secrecy despite adverse conditions. Celie's character is characterized by her resilience and resourcefulness, a key point of her persona.

Despite potential disadvantages, including limited perspective and dialogue only through characters, some critics like Katz and Walker recognize

the power of communication in the epistolary form. Celie and Nettie both share their unique perspectives through letter-writing. Celie addresses her letters to God, while Nettie writes to Celie.

Writing letters allows both sisters to find strength, but it is through receiving responses that they are truly saved. Through this act of self-expression and confession, they are empowered by the willingness of their audience. One particular moment that marks the beginning of Celie's self-expression is her sexual awakening, wherein she describes her genitalia. However, Nettie feels lost without Celie as her audience when she does not respond to her letters.

An illustration of this is evident in Nettie's disillusionment with her missionary work, where she feels frustrated by the villagers' reluctance to listen. This stubbornness proves to be a stumbling block, which causes Nettie to question the purpose of her work. However, once she returns to Celie, an audience that will undoubtedly hear her, she finds fulfillment and liberation. This demonstrates how letter writing brings the sisters closer and unites them. Additionally, using epistolary form allows for an intimate portrayal of the narrator's thoughts without interference from the author while conveying the dramatic immediacy of things yet to come. It also gives an honest depiction of a character's true feelings because Celie has no reason to deceive anyone about her personal thoughts.

We can confirm the genuineness of her emotions as she transparently shares her experience of living through trauma. She writes, "But I feels dazed. My daddy lynched, My mama crazy. All my little half brothers and sisters no kin to me. My children not my sister and brother. Pa not pa."

The novel has a horror

element as the author does not divert from the detailed, firsthand accounts given by the narrator, creating an emotional journey for the reader as they bond with Celie and experience her isolation through her own perspective of her life. Celie's sole confidant is God, as those around her view her as evil and up to no good.

Alice Walker could have chosen the epistolary form for various reasons. One possible reason is that she desired to express the characters' thoughts within the book. Another reason could be that she focused on Celie and Nettie's perspectives. In doing so, she established direct correspondence between these characters. If she had gone with a different literary form, it would have facilitated an examination of more characters with less precision in her comments on each.

Walker's use of epistolary form in "The Color Purple" creates characters, Celie and Nettie, that feel genuinely human to readers. By using letters as the primary mode of communication, Walker helps the characters seem like real people. This choice also represents Celie's transformation throughout the novel, particularly after receiving letters from Mr.

Communication is depicted by Walker through the exchange of letters between Nettie and Celie, emphasizing their connection despite physical separation. Celie expresses this by writing, "Dear Nettie, I don't write to God no more. I write to you."

In the book, the author portrays Celie's emotional and spiritual evolution through the epistolary form. Celie's change from writing to God to writing to Nettie exemplifies her growth from a timid and insecure individual, fearful of society, to a confident and expressive one capable of feeling and love. The epistolary style effectively highlights Celie's

progression, ultimately empowering her to become an independent and formidable character. As the author writes, "If she come, I be happy."

Although Celie may be content if Shug does not reciprocate her love, the fact that they often do not receive each other's letters highlights the power of patriarchy that they eventually overcome. Letter writing clearly displays Celie's dramatic character development, as readers can easily observe the contrast from the beginning. Celie's emotional and physical progression is evident through her writing as she gains confidence in her own ability. From crudely describing her rape in the beginning, to writing lengthy and expressive passages towards the end of the novel, Celie's writing reflects her progress.

One of the key themes of 'The Color Purple' is Celie's ability to have her own voice and express herself. This is exemplified by the quote "Dear God, Dear stars, dear trees, dear sky, dear people. Dear everything. Dear God." Alice Walker effectively utilizes the epistolary form to create emotional intimacy in the novel. In addition, this literary device allows for other opportunities for the author.

By omitting chunks of time, the novel effectively avoids boredom and concentrates on Celie's significant life events. The epistolary style generates an intimate atmosphere that allows readers to appreciate Celie's personal sentiments and comprehend her struggles.

Alice Walker's implementation of the epistolary format in "The Color Purple" offers a distinct and novel viewpoint on literature. By utilizing first person narration, the reader is immersed into the narrative and feels a sense of authenticity. The protagonist, Celie, writes in an informal tone that enhances the genuineness of the story. Although some elements may not be transparent to

readers, they are aware that these events transpire for her.

Walker's portrayal of Celie and her environment is effectively conveyed through the use of her dialect, creating a realistic depiction that aids in understanding Celie's identity, context, and society. Furthermore, the theme of quilting connects to the novel's epistolary format consisting of fragmented letters pieced together to form a cohesive narrative.

The use of quilting as a theme connects Celie to the entire novel. She gradually creates a quilt and a story about her life, piece by piece. This style has a powerful impact on readers as we hear the story from Celie and Nettie's perspectives, without a narrator. We read letters between sisters who have complete trust in each other.

We have a small advantage over Nettie as we are able to read Celie's letters to God, allowing us to see the same events. Celie and Nettie both assume their letters will go unanswered even though they promise to write each other. The epistolary style used in The Color Purple is effective and emotionally engaging, as we experience the characters' journey. While Bell Hooks believes the novel lacks realism, there are many perspectives presented throughout the story.

Henderson suggests that the protagonist's close examination of the novel demonstrates both her limited perspective and her effort to establish her sense of self. Through the epistolary format, readers gain insight into the character's sentiments and thoughts, which enriches our comprehension of the plot, themes, and characters. This approach provides a distinctive viewpoint that is challenging to achieve through other literary styles by submerging us in the character's mental state and emotional voyage from start to finish.

"Our happiness

is immense; I truly think that we have never experienced such a youthful spirit before."